Project Information
This is the second piece I did for an art exhibit that was being sponsored by a long time Waukegan business, Waukegan Tire. I had the "Independent" box about 95% designed when I went to visit their facilities a second time to look through more bins. While doing so the owner pulled out a rim center that had been machined and polished at the American Racing Custom wheel shop. He asked if I could use it in my design…well the wheels started turning (I know…a bit punny). At first I was going to design a stand for the box but then decided on a side table to make it a bit more universal….the design of the "Connection" table had started.
The main design feature of the "Connection" table are the connecting rod shaped legs. They are made from maple using a combination of bandsaw, handplanes and three different routing fixtures. They have hand-cut mortises to accept the tenons on the center rim supports. The connecting rod bolts are actual splined, chromed lug nuts. In the center of the connecting rods are diecast emblems that are normally placed in the center of wire spoked wheels.
The center rim supports are maple and were shaped using a vertical panel raising bit and handplanes. The rim center is supported by four maple angled blocks. The angle matches the angle on the backside of the rim. There is also an aluminum pin in each to mate up with a hole I drilled in the rim. That is for perfect alignment if you choose to remove the rim center.
The glass supports are also made from maple. I made a routing fixture so I could route a rebate onto the support that matched the diameter of the rim. After picking the locations I drilled and tapped into the rim to mount them….then came all the shaping. The supports hold up a 3/8" thick x 24" diameter piece of tempered glass. Overall the table stands 24" tall.
The "Connection" table was finished with (4) coats of hand rubbed poly with sandings of 0000 steel wool in between each coat. After curing it was waxed with satin wax.
This was the first side table I ever did but I would have to say I was very happy with the results….there might be more designed in the future. Well, time to pack up the shop for the big move! Keep making that sawdust!
The main design feature of the "Connection" table are the connecting rod shaped legs. They are made from maple using a combination of bandsaw, handplanes and three different routing fixtures. They have hand-cut mortises to accept the tenons on the center rim supports. The connecting rod bolts are actual splined, chromed lug nuts. In the center of the connecting rods are diecast emblems that are normally placed in the center of wire spoked wheels.
The center rim supports are maple and were shaped using a vertical panel raising bit and handplanes. The rim center is supported by four maple angled blocks. The angle matches the angle on the backside of the rim. There is also an aluminum pin in each to mate up with a hole I drilled in the rim. That is for perfect alignment if you choose to remove the rim center.
The glass supports are also made from maple. I made a routing fixture so I could route a rebate onto the support that matched the diameter of the rim. After picking the locations I drilled and tapped into the rim to mount them….then came all the shaping. The supports hold up a 3/8" thick x 24" diameter piece of tempered glass. Overall the table stands 24" tall.
The "Connection" table was finished with (4) coats of hand rubbed poly with sandings of 0000 steel wool in between each coat. After curing it was waxed with satin wax.
This was the first side table I ever did but I would have to say I was very happy with the results….there might be more designed in the future. Well, time to pack up the shop for the big move! Keep making that sawdust!